Wringer



Patented Dot. 1, 1940 PATENT OFFICE WRINGER Walter L. Kauffman, 11, Erie, Pa., assignor to Lovell Manufacturing Company, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 11, 1938, Serial No. 207,336

11 Claims.

Power wringers are associated with a certain amount of hazard by reason of the fact that it is possible for the users to get caught in the rolls. Many devices have been designed to reduce the hazard by making it possible to stop the inward pull of the rolls on the operator or the clothes of the operator that may be caught. Oneway of accomplishing this is to release the pressure on the rolls and the present invention is designed to provide a safety feature in this manner.

The release of the pressure to be effective must be so obvious to the operator, or such as to be operative through the instinctive action of the operator to effect the release. In the present invention the manner of release is not only obvious but the natural response of the operator when caught is such as to effect a releasing action.

Such instinctive releases have heretofore been suggested but in some of them at least the variation in effort along different parts of the wringer, depending where the operator is caught, is objectionable. It has been suggested that this difficulty might be cured by a safety device such as connecting gears by mounting the wringer on a paralleling mechanism so that an equal effort at any part of the length of the wringer affects its action. The present invention is designed to operate a pressure release through the instinctive action of the operator'whether forward, back or downwardly. The downward direction is particula'rly effective in case of children becoming caught in the wringer and this is accomplished in the present invention by mounting the wringer on a double set of parallel links. In one set the links swing on a vertical pivot. On the other set swing on horizontal pivots so that in effect the wringer is free to move, as far as the link mounting is concerned; in every direction. As exemplified such a movement of the wringer frame releases the pressure on the rolls, and as specifically shown this is accomplished by releasing the top bar of the wringer from which the roll receives its pressure. It is desirable also in case of release to stop the further rotation of the rolls aft-er release and the present structure contains a means that breaks the driving connection on the release as the pressure is released. vFeatures and details of the invention will appear from the specification and claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing as follows:

. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a wringer partly in section.

Fig. 2 an elevation of the mounting head viewed from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 a plan view of a driving end of the wringer.

Fig. 4 shows the link system detached to better show construction.

Fig. 5 an enlarged sectional view showing the roll stop clutch.

I marks the base of the wringer, 2 the stile next to the driving end of the wringer, 3 the stile at the opposite end of the wringer, 4 the lower roll, 5 the upper roll, 6 and I shaftsfor the rolls 4 and 5 respectively. Bearings 8 are provided for the shaft 6. These bearings are arranged in the stiles and rest on brackets 9 in the stiles. Bearings Ill are provided for the shaft 1. A spring ll rests on the upper bearings exerting pressure on said bearings, the bearings being slidingly mounted so that the pressure is communicated to the roll. An adjusting screw I2 extends from the spring through a nut l3 and the tension on the roll may be adjusted through the screw.

A resetting device is provided for one of the wringer rolls opposite the driving connection. This resetting device comprises a resetting lever l4 hinged to the top bar at I5. The resetting lever is channel shape, the side extending along the sides of the stile. Links l6 are pivoted by pin I1 on the stile at I8 on the resetting lever, the

links and resetting lever forming a toggle. As the lever is forced down this draws the top bar downwardly resetting the pressure on the spring. In set position the pivots l1, l8 and hinge l5 are sufficiently out of alignment to hold the resetting lever in' reset position. When, however, the opposite end of the top bar is released, the swing of the top bar carries the top of the resettinglever far enough to pass over the pivot centers and the resetting lever is thus released.

The wringer is carried on a post IS. A head extension is swiveled on this post. The head extension 20 carries the head 2|. The head is provided with a bolt l9a adapted to lock the perforations [9b in the post so as to index the wringer in different positions desired.

A driving shaft 22 is journalled in the head and extends to some source of power, usually a driving means of the washing machine, with which the wringer is associated. A bevel gear 23 is fixed on the upper end of the shaft and meshes with reversing bevel gears 24. The gears24are journaled on a shaft 25. The shaft 25 is journaled in bearings 26 in the head. A clutch block 21 is splined on the shaft and placed between the gears. It has jaw 28 which engages detents 29 The axes of the pivots 46 are vertical.

in the gears. The block is provided with an annular groove 36. A crank pin 3| operates in this groove and is carried by a crank 32. The crank 32 is carried by a pin 33 operating in a bearing 34 in the head. A handle 35 is provided by means of which the crank may be operated and thus either the wringer may be set for running forward or back or the block may be arrested in neutral and thus stop the action of the rolls.

This gear mechanism is one of common construction. The shaft 25 is connected through a universal joint 36 to the driving roll.

Two pairs of links 3'! are pivotally mounted at their outer ends on the head, a pivot bolt extending through the links and ears 39 on the head accomplishing this pivotal connection. The links of each pair are pivotally connected by plates 36 which have openings 38a for the extension and the shaft 33. These links extend toward the wringer, their ends being at the inner end of the head. Vertically arranged links 40 are pivotally secured between the pairs of links 31, the pivotal connection being accomplished by pins 4|. These links 40 are connected by a plate 42 through which an opening 43 is provided to permit the shaft to pass. The plate 42 has ears 44 at its ends between the links 40, and two sets of links 45 are pivoted to the links on vertical pivots by means of pivot pins 46. The links are connected, one of each pair, by plates 45a.

The forward ends of the links 45 are pivotally connected by rods 41 with ears 48 on brackets 49 secured to the wringer. The links 31 are held in their upward position by springs 50, the springs being arranged between the plate 38 and the head. It Will' be noted from this construction that the wringer may be pushed forward and back, swinging on the links 45 or may be pushed up or down swinging on the links 31 and that it maintains a parallel relation to the axes of the rolls, and that it is just as responsive to force at one end as the other so that an operator caught in the rolls exerting pressure in any direction effects a movement of the wringer and with equal sensitivity at all parts of the wringer.

Under some conditions it may be desirable to definitely locate the wringer by stopping its upward movement under the influence of the spring 50. This may be.accomplished by a set screw or other device forming a stop for the lower link plate 38, as indicated in Fig. 1 or this may be omitted as indicated in plate 37 in Fig. 4, in which case universal movement of the wringer is permitted.

In order that the movement of the wringer under the instinctive action of the operator may be transmitted to releasing action, the following mechanism is provided: A latch 5| has a hook 52 and is pivoted on a pin 53 extending from side to side of the top bar. This latch is preferably formed with two side members each having hooks and each having the pivotal connection, these side members being connected by cross plate 54. The hook 52 extends into a notch 55 in the inner face of the stiles and consequently normally holds the top of the wringer in set position. This latch corresponds to a latch shown in Letters Patent No. 2,087,977 granted to me July 27, 1937.

A trip bar 56 is slidingly mounted in a bracket 51 secured to the top bar and a perforation 58 in the end of the top bar. A spring 60 is carried between the bracket 51 and a shoulder 6| and tends to force the bar outwardly, the end of the bar extending through the end of the top bar.

The inner end of the bar has a bend 62 with a return end 63 which normally engages the plate 54 and holds the latch 51 in set position. The outer end of the bar 56 extends into a cam notch 64 arranged'in a projection 65 on a case 66, the case being secured to the head. The cam notch has cam surfaces 61 extending horizontally from a central position, and also cam surfaces 68 extending downwardly. The trip bar 56 extends into the notch 64 and the spring acting on this bar tends to hold the wringer in its central position by reason of the inclinations of the notch.

In operation, should the operator become caught and exert pressure forward or back or downwardly, the action of the cams 61 and 68 on the trip bar 56 forces the trip bar endWise so as to force the return end 63 off the plate 54, thus relieving the latch and permitting the upward throw of the top bar. This upward throw carries the spring upwardly, releasing the pressure on the rolls. With the slight upward movement of the driving end of the top bar the resetting device is released so the entire top bar is free to move permitting the wringer rolls to separate.

In order to stop the rolls when a safety action of the wringer takes place, the following mechanism is provided: The shaft 6 extends into a socket 68a in a cone 68b. The cone has a wearing surface 69 which engages a corresponding wearing surface in the bearing 8. The'inner face of the cone is provided with jaws 10 which are adapted to be engaged by a pin H. The outer end of the cone has a projection 12 which is adapted to swing in'the coupling tube 36. A

slot 13a in the end of the coupling tube of the universal joint 36, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The opposite end of the tube has a similar slot 14 and pin 15 in the shaft 25. A spring 16 is arranged in the socket 68a against the end of the shaft 6. In the operation of this roll mechanism, when pressure 'is put on the rolls the camming action of the cone forces the cone axially so as to bring the jaws 10 into engagement with the pin H so as to lock the shaft by the intermediate mechanism with the shaft 25. When, however, pressure is released, as for instance, in a safety operation, the spring 16 forces the cone out of engagement with the pin and thus stops the roll. This specific release device forms the subject matter of a pending application, Ser. No. 736,007, filed July 19, 1934 now Patent No. 2,123,850.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a wringer having a wringer frame, rolls mounted in the frame and a safety device comprising a pressure release for the wringer rolls; the combination with said frame, rolls and safety device of a supporting means having a movable mounting for the frame, comprising a paralleling connection between the mounting and the frame arranged and connected to allow said frame in response to a thrust of an operator to be moved transversely with respect to said support to another position relative to said support that is parallel to the first named position, and communicating means actuating the safety device in response to a movement of the frame.

2. In a. wringer having a wringer frame, rolls mounted in the frame, a safety device; the combination with said frame, rolls and safety device of a supporting means having a movable mount ing for the frame, comprising a paralleling connection between the mounting and the frame arranged and connected to allow said frame in response to a thrust of an operator to be moved cross pin 13 extends through the extension into a ing a pressure release for the wringer rolls; the

combination with said frame, rolls and safety device of a supporting means having a movable mounting for the frame comprising a paralleling connection between the mounting and the frame arranged and connected to allow said frame in response to a thrust of an operator to be moved up and down transversely with respect-to said support to another position relative to said support that is parallel to the first named position, and communicating means actuating the safety device in response to a movement of the frame.

4. In a wringer, the combination of a frame,

. rolls mounted in the frame, a driving mechanism for the wringer rolls, mechanism releasing pressure on the rolls and safety devices for releasing the driving mechanism and the pressure release mechanism; the combination with said frame, rolls, driving mechanism, pressure releasing mechanism and safety devices of a support comprising a paralleling connection between the mounting and the frame arranged and connected to allow said frame in response to a thrust of an operator to be moved transversely with respect to said support toanother position relative to said support that is parallel to the first named position, and communicating means actuating the safety device.

5. In a wringer having a wringer frame, rolls mounted in the frame, a safety device; the combination with said frame, rolls and safety device "of a supporting meanshaving a movable mounting for the frame, comprising a paralleling connection between the mounting and the frame ar ranged and connected to allow said frame in response to a thrust of an operator to be moved universally in transverse directions with respect to said support to another position relative to said support that is parallel to the first named position, and communicating means actuating the safety devices in response to movement of the frame.

6. In a wringer having'a wringer frame, rolls mounted in the frame, and a safety device; the combination with said frame, rolls and safety device of a supporting means having a movable mounting for the frame, comprising two pairs of paralleling swinging links forming a universal connection, said frame through said connection being adapted and arranged in response to a thrust of an operator to be moved universally in transverse directions with respect to said support to another position relative to said support that is parallel to the first named position, and communicating means actuating the safety device, in response to a movement of the frame.

7. In a wringer having a wringer frame, wringer rolls mounted in the frame, a safety device comprising a pressure release for the wringwith respect to said support to another position relative to said support that is parallel to the first named position, and communicating means actuating the safety device, in response to a movement of the frame.

8. In a wringer, having a frame, rolls mounted in the frame, a driving mechanism for the wringer rolls and a safety device for the wringer comprising a mechanism releasing the driving mechanism; the combination with the frame, driving mechanism and safety device of a supporting means having a movable mounting for the frame comprising a paralleling connection between the mounting and the frame arranged and connected to allow said frame in response to a thrust of an operator to be moved universally in transverse directions with respect to said support to another position relative to said support that is parallel to the first named position,

and communicating means actuating the safety device, in response to a movement of the frame.

9. In a wringer, having a frame, rolls mounted in the frame, a driving mechanism for the wringer rolls, mechanism releasing pressure on the rolls and safety devices for the wringer for releasing the driving mechanism and the pressure release mechanism; the combination with said frame, rolls, driving mechanism, pressure releasing mechanism and safety devices of a support comprising a paralleling connection between the mounting and the frame arranged and connected to allow said frame in response to a thrust of an operator to be moved universally in transverse directions with respect to said support to another position relative to said support that is parallel to the first named position, and communicating means actuating the safety device, in response to a movement of the frame.

10. In a wringer, having a wringer frame, rolls and connected to allow said frame in response to. a thrust of an operator to be moved transversely with respect to said support to another position relative to said support that is parallel to the first named position, and a trip mechanism actuating said latch comprising devices connected with the wringer and with the mounting and operable with relative movement of the parts of the device connected with wringer and the parts connected by the mounting.

11. In a wringer having a wringer frame, rolls mounted in the frame, a top bar for the frame, a pressure means for the rolls between the top bar and the rolls, a latch retaining the top bar in the frame; the combination with the frame, rolls, top bar, pressure means and latch of a supporting means having a movable mounting for the frame, comprising a paralleling connection between the mounting and the frame arranged and connected to allow said frame in response to a thrust of an operator to be moved transversely with respect to said support to another position relativeto said support that is parallel to the first named position, a catch comprising a cam surface, said cam being adapted to release the latch with a relative movement of the mounting and wringer frame.

WALTER L. KAUFFMAN, II. 

